[Rhodes22-list] Backstay Tensioner

Rick sloopblueheron at gmail.com
Mon Aug 10 11:23:16 EDT 2009


David,

Your point is well taken.  In fact, it suggests a caveat to what I've done.
That is, with my modification it is very easy to overtighten the tension by
putting all your weight on the haul line.  Furthermore, it was probably
Stan's devious design objective to make tightening an awkward bend so it
would be too difficult to overtighten.

Rick

On Mon, Aug 10, 2009 at 9:48 AM, David Walker <david.walker5 at comcast.net>wrote:

> The classic reason for adjusting backstay tension while sailing is to
> adjust
> the position and shape of the mainsail draft on a fractionally rigged boat.
> Tightening the back stay bends the mast into a slightly convex shape (top
> of
> mast aft, point where forestay attaches forward).  With a properly cut main
> this flattens the sail and reduces its drag significantly for upwind
> sailing.
>
> That being said, the R22 is a mast head rig and if you have IMF you do not
> want to bend the mast.  On the R22 the backstay should be tightened to get
> sufficient tension in the jib luff, but overtightening will bend the mast
> against the lower stays and the larger mast extrusion for the IMF might
> permantly deform and totally screw up main furling.  Any way the flat cut
> IMF main is not going to respond to mast bending.
>
> At the most, one might tighten the backstay to tension the jib luff at the
> start of a sail and loosen it a little at the end of the day but this is
> probably not neccessary.
>
> If you have a conventional main with the proper cut (like I think Roger P
> has) adusting backstay tension to bend the mast makes sense.
>
> David Walker,  SV Windswept
>
> www.davidwalkerphotography.com
>
> Event Specialists
>
> 781-639-2707 Office
> 781-718-8690 Cell
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Leland" <LKUHN at cnmc.org>
> To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 8:22 AM
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Backstay Tensioner
>
>
> >
> > Rick,
> >
> > Not that I need something else to adjust on my boat, but when do you
> > adjust
> > it?  Is it something as simple as tight for upwind and loose for downwind
> > or
> > are there a million options depending on the conditions?
> >
> > Lee
> >
> >
> >
> > Rick-139 wrote:
> >>
> >> This is a gizmo from Harken that works well.  It has two sheaves in a
> >> frame
> >> with a built in jam cleat.  The outer sheave is only used to fasten one
> >> end
> >> of the hauling line.  The inner sheave replaces one of the stock turning
> >> blocks which can be seen still attached to the stay.  Instead of having
> >> to
> >> run the line down to a horn cleat on the transom that is awkward to
> >> reach,
> >> my first mate can now easily change the stay tension.
> >>
> >> Rick
> >> -------------- next part --------------
> >> A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
> >> Name: BackstayTensioner1.jpg
> >> Type: image/jpeg
> >> Size: 73097 bytes
> >> Desc: not available
> >> Url :
> >>
> http://www.rhodes22.org/pipermail/rhodes22-list/attachments/20090809/bb8932c0/attachment.jpg
> >> -------------- next part --------------
> >> A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
> >> Name: BackstayTensioner2.jpg
> >> Type: image/jpeg
> >> Size: 67922 bytes
> >> Desc: not available
> >> Url :
> >>
> http://www.rhodes22.org/pipermail/rhodes22-list/attachments/20090809/bb8932c0/attachment-0001.jpg
> >> __________________________________________________
> >> To subscribe/unsubscribe go to
> >> http://www.rhodes22.org/mailman/listinfo/rhodes22-list
> >>
> >> For the list Charter and help with using the mailing list and archives
> go
> >> to http://www.rhodes22.org/list
> >> __________________________________________________
> >>
> >>
> >
> > --
> > View this message in context:
> > http://www.nabble.com/Backstay-Tensioner-tp24893288p24898749.html
> > Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > To subscribe/unsubscribe go to
> > http://www.rhodes22.org/mailman/listinfo/rhodes22-list
> >
> > For the list Charter and help with using the mailing list and archives go
> > to http://www.rhodes22.org/list
> > __________________________________________________
> >
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> To subscribe/unsubscribe go to
> http://www.rhodes22.org/mailman/listinfo/rhodes22-list
>
> For the list Charter and help with using the mailing list and archives go
> to http://www.rhodes22.org/list
> __________________________________________________
>


More information about the Rhodes22-list mailing list